What is Reconstruction?
A Short Paper Assignment allows you, early in the course, to demonstrate your research skills to your instructor and to receive feedback that will benefit you when you write your research paper. With this assignment, you will learn how to do proper and adequate research and write a short paper and prepare you for writing the research paper. This short paper is at least three double-spaced pages of text (Times New Roman, font size 12) and you must consult a minimum of two academically credible sources. Bibliographies and citations will be in the Chicago Manual of Style format. The short paper needs to be turned in through the assignment section for grading. If you use any of the information from your sources word-for-word, you must cite the source by using endnotes or footnotes. If you read the information and write it in your own words and it is not common knowledge, then you must cite the source because you are paraphrasing someone's information. The short paper must include a cover page with your name, course number and course title, instructor's name, and date. You must also include a bibliography at the end of your paper. While composing your paper, use proper English. Do not use abbreviations, contractions, passive voice, or first/ second person (I, you, we, our, etc). Before submitting your paper, check your grammar and use spell check. Remember, the way you talk is not the way you write a paper. Please label your paper as follows: lastnamefirstnameHIST102ShortPaper. Your topic For the first written paper you may choose any historical topic that falls within the scope of the course. I went ahead and chose Reconstruction.
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Reconstruction
Reconstruction is used to refer to various periods in history of mankind where various leading individuals and societies took on the responsibility of ensuring that their cities, towns, and heritages among other components are restored after periods of civil wars, wars of conquest and other war-like activities. History shows that reconstruction periods are normally characterized by massive strategic decisions and plans that aim at transforming the society to its older self to improve the welfare of the people therein. Majority of the reconstructions around the world comes as a result of wars that lead to massive destruction of property as well as loss of several lives of people.
The most-covered reconstruction processes in the world are the one that occurred in the US, as well as the European reconstruction after the civil war and world war respectively. In the American context, the reconstruction era can be subdivided into two phases. The first one concentrates on reconstruction of the entire nation starting from 1865 to 1877 after the Civil War and the second phase dwells on the entire transformation that took place between 1863 and 1877 in the Southern United States. It follows that the leadership and the society at large saw the need to turn around the society for the sake of improving their welfare and standards of living.
Abraham Lincoln is a man that receives much credit when it comes to the reconstruction process of this country since his leadership skills and organization are seen to be critical in bringing together the stakeholders and mobilization of resources to achieve this goal. The American Civil War that had led to the destruction of property is portrayed as an occurrence that warranted massive reconstruction and organization of the entire society to regain its progressive status. The period was set by the end of the military conflict through the entire process of rebuilding led to various conflicts among the leaders from the political divide that had conflicting ideas regarding the essence and the way the entire process had to be done. The Northerners were against the idea of reconstructing the southern part of the country though the southerners showed much desire that was geared towards the preservation of their heritage and way of life.
The increase in the number of conflicts surrounding the reconstruction ideals of the proponents led to various constitutional amendments that were meant to legalize and support the entire process of reconstruction. The leadership ensured that the necessary resources and skills were availed in time to ensure that the process proceeded as expected. There is what was known as the period of presidential reconstruction that occurred between 1865 and 1867 where Andrew Johnson proposed a new mechanism that showed much leniency toward the reconstru...